https://youtube.com/watch?v=dxfmX4QkEyw 35:23
by Rick Shaddock, applicant to Sofia University
The article "Conceptualizing Pure Consciousness" Dr. Mark Losoncz, of the University of Belgrade, posits that psychedelic substances can help one experience a state of pure awareness. He says these substances can induce an experience that is identical to the one achieved through meditation. This challenges a claim made by philosopher Thomas Metzinger* who says meditation is the best way to reach this state.
The problem with this article is its focus on surface-level similarities. The one between an outside event that affects your consciousness (exogenous) and a personal inner development of it (endogenous). The authentic and sustainable way to experience pure consciousness is through meditation, a technique that is effortless, natural and lasting, towards Cosmic Consciousness. When we experience restful alertness through a technique like TM**, it is not because of some "high" or chemically induced sensation. It is actually the mind's state, free of all the noise and distractions. This calmness comes from the field of consciousness that underlies everything, including our thoughts and the physical world around us.
Meditation works by letting the system unwind and recharge, while remaining alert without relying on any gimmicks or forced stimulation to get into this state. The feeling of euphoria that people sometimes experience when taking psychedelics can be seen as a chemical reaction in the brain. It is similar to the way heroin creates a sense of pleasure - but at a cost. This pleasure is not natural. It is manufactured by the drug, which manipulates the brain's system for experiences. Similarly, heroin can give the euphoria of an orgasm, but is a mental masturbation, without truly being with a loved one. Likewise, psychedelics can have severe consequences for the nervous system and psychology. Drugs provide temporary self pleasure, but result in a sad and lonely life.
A psychedelic experience, no matter how intense, is still a chemical event that offers a glimpse, but it does not have the same kind of staying power as the natural process of the Relaxation Response*** Meditation is an innate ability that comes from within. Using psychedelics as a path to consciousness is misguided. A fleeting spiritual experience isn't the same as growth. Pure consciousness is about connecting with your self, and our universal, infinite, cosmic Self. This unity with the universe is also explored in physics as a field. The effective way to achieve this is through a disciplined practice like Transcendental Meditation. This approach has been scientifically proven. Meditation strengthens your system, leading to lasting progress. It is the method that allows you to tap into the field in a way that is genuinely good, for us both mentally and physically, and sets us up for long-term wellness.
*
Thomas Metziner, University of Mainz, has has learned Transcendental Meditation
https://youtube.com/watch?v=dxfmX4QkEyw 35:23
**
I find that Transcendental Meditation works the best of several methods tried
over the years. There are over 300 studies at research institutions,
including Harvard and NIH, documenting that it makes a measureable difference in
people's lives, from reducing stress and anxiety to improving how their brains
work.
https://TM.org
https://ifdt.bg.ac.rs/dt_team/losonc-mark/?lang=en
***
http://RelaxationResponse.org
Dr. Herbert Benson's term for TM
